About book Crete: The Battle And The Resistance (1994)
I read this book whilst in Crete, and with a fair amount of prior knowledge. I'd previously read Patrick Leigh Fermor: An Adventure by Artemis Cooper, The Cretan Runner: His Story of the German Occupation by George Psychoundakis, and Abducting a General: The Kreipe Operation and SOE in Crete by Patrick Leigh FermorI knew, from George Psychoundakis, that Crete has a long history of occupation and counter-resistance. The conflict in Crete between the Cretan guerrillas, supported by a handful of British soldiers, and the Nazi occupiers was extreme. The hated Germans behaved barbarically to the Cretans and punished acts of insurrection by torturing and destroying entire communities. What I didn't know much about, was the lead up to the Battle of Crete, how the conflict played out, and a more detached perspective on the occupation. I'm a confirmed Antony Beevor fan so, reading this book, whilst visiting Crete, seemed like a logical next step.The battle is brought vividly to life. Numerous errors of judgement meant the Germans prevailed when the Allied forces could and should have repelled the invasion. Bernard Freyberg emerges as a flawed commander whose failure to understand intelligence reports and inability to push home his advantage at key moments resulted in the avoidable defeat. The latter part of the book describes the resistance and covers a lot of ground quickly. I was glad I had read more about this aspect of the conflict however I still gained helpful insights into Cretan politics and the broader Greek context.This book is not in the same league as Beevor's Berlin: The Downfall, 1945 or Stalingrad, but then what is? That said it is a great read - compelling, and imbued with Antony Beevor's customary rigour and readability.
Excellent book by Beevor, if you love his other works youll love this one. Excellent overview and in depth look at Crete by the men who fought it, and the subsequent reistance and liberation. The story of Crete plays out like a poorly written drama, but as they say truth is stranger than fiction. The ups and downs, the missed opportunities, and the various personalities and politics all play their role in a story that wouldnt be out of place in a modern soap opera. Highly reccomended for those interested in the subject or just a fan of Beevors writing.
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Beevor, famed historian of the 1998 Stalingrad and the 2002 The Fall of Berlin, which awakened the world to the Red Army's war rapes in Germany in 1945, was still in 1991 struggling a little bit to find his meter, and although this book offers some very professional and sharp passages, on the other hand the bar has been set higher by his later accomplishments and this 11 day battle lacks some of the horrific grandeur of Stalingrad or Berlin. (total casualties on both sides ~6000-- which is about how many died or were wounded every twelve hours in Stalingrad for five months)there are some very airy and nice descriptions of 'old world' britain with its winchester graduates and eccentric counts and barons carrying out war according to their ancient traditions, but otherwise this is a mere competent work.
—S.
Fascinating account of the events around the airborne invasion of Crete in 1941. Antony Beevor is in his usual form, weaving the big picture with eye witness accounts and experiences. I find it incredible that the elite german paratroopers were so let down by their leadership by being thrown into such a disasterous situation. The allied soldiers were also let down by indecisive and incompetent leadership in a battle they should have won.An interesting read, perhaps a little less so during the focus on the resistance and aftermath. Still this is a comprehensive and readable account of this crucial battle.
—John Gordon
